Longview, Texas - The Spartans scored five runs on four hits, but a handful of errors sunk the squad as they suffered their first loss of the year. The team dropped Monday's contest 8-5 to undefeated LeTourneau falling to 1-1 on the season.

Soren Pelz-Walsh went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, but the Spartans surrendered 12 hits and made five errors in the field to seal their fate against the undefeated Yellow Jackets. 

Nate Swahn started on the mound for Castleton, but was hampered by the defense behind him. The Yellow Jackets put up three runs on a trio of Spartan errors. In the bottom of the second the Yellow Jackets added another run to their lead by stringing together two walks and a hit. Bryce Griffin scored on a wild pitch, but Swahn worked his way out of a jam to limit the damage.

Devin Hayes made his debut for the Spartans, taking the mound in the bottom of the third. He surrendered one run in the frame, sinking the visitors deeper into a 5-0 hole. In the top of the fourth the Spartans finally got on the board, scoring four runs in the frame.

Matt McNamee and Allen White began the inning with back-to-back walks. McNamee advanced to third on a past ball, and then the pair performed a double steal that sent White to second and brought McNamee home, cutting the lead to 5-1. Chaz Millett reached on a fielding error and then Taylor Vile earned his first RBI of the season bringing White home with a single up the middle. Two batters later, Tyler Lord took one for the team and Macyn Clifford drove in a run with a groundout to first base. Pelz-Walsh scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-4 before the end of the frame.

Hayes continued his outing with a pair of scoreless frames, but the Spartans failed to score in the fifth and sixth frames. In the bottom of the sixth, LeTourneau cashed in on four hits to drive home two more runs, extending their lead to 7-4. Hayes finished with four innings pitched, three earned runs, a walk and a strikeout. 

Ethan Hanson relived Hayes in the bottom of the seventh, and pitched two innings. The sophomore allowed an RBI-double in the eighth, but kept the Yellow Jackets from extending their lead any further. LeTourneau took an 8-4 lead into the ninth inning.

The Spartans attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the ninth. Pelz-Walsh led off the inning with a single up the middle, and Tyler Lord followed with a walk. Two batters later, Joe Borowski was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Dan Errico. The designated hitter lifted a drive to left, but it didn't quite have enough to leave the park and tie the game. Instead, Pelz-Walsh tagged up from third and scored, making it 8-5. The Spartans had runners on first and second with two out, but couldn't bring them around, and were closed out by LeTourneau's Kirby Cantalamessa. 

Swahn took the loss after surrendering a pair of earned runs in the first, and Canaan Klaasen earned the win for the Yellow Jackets, his first of the year. Cantalamessa earned the save, his second of the year.

Castleton falls to 1-1 while LeTourneau improves to 8-0 on the year. The Spartans and Yellow Jackets will square off again on Tuesday, and then Castleton will travel to Louisiana College on Wednesday, finishing their road trip.